The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-06-24
The Newspaper Reporter.
A WORD FOR TIIE WORKER WHO is OFTEN
MIsJUDGED by OUTSIDERS.

when newspaper reporter rings a
door bell and asks for the latest and
most authentic particulars of Mr..
Jones recent domestic vioissitude,
whether 1t be the running away of his
daughter or the bursting of the water
back Of the range, it is a mistake to
suppose that the reporter personally
cares two pence for the disturbance in
MIR. Jones household. If he is peril
nacious-and too often he is-it is mis-
taken zeal in keeping fealty with the
great public, which delights in the
knowledge of Mr.. Jones domestic af-
fairs.
There is no body of men with less
personal curiosity than reporters. Ex-
perience on any well conducted news
paper quickly blunts the edge of that
interest in small doings that character
izes individuals in private life. If he
assists at prize fight to day, he is
present at meeting of the evangeli.
cal alliance tomorrow, and the next
day at political primary. If on Mon
day hec"interviews some distinguished
resident of the Jail, on Tuesday he
listened to high authority on impor-
tant questions on public policy up
town.
1t is keen pleasure to listen to
the conversation of group of
able newspaper men. Their profess
ion gives to them grip on the nom
ment, and they know when to let go.
They move lightly from subject to
subject, but with that discrimination
which their knowledge of men and af.
fairs has given them. Their training
has induced the habit of clear, succinct
statement. They learn to think as
they write They seize the salient
points unerringly, and that largenese
of view that circumstances breed in
them induce moderation of statement
and of opinion.
Few people strive to be accurate un.
der disadvantages as does the news
paper person. He hears rumor here
He hastens to verify it there. Mean
while he has consulted a number Of
persons supposed to hold the germ oI
truth, and their statements all differ
But nothing is more difficult than the
truth. This is not from lack of will
or a preference Cor lying, but from sheer
inability to appreciate the value of &C
curacy. Nine-tenths of the inaccura
cies in newspapers arise in this way
There Is not a reporter in New York
city who has not spent weary hours ..ir
conversation in order to get grain ol
truth, and often to find in the end that
that supposed grain of truth is error.
With whatever vehemence it may be
denied, the newspaper person knows
that most people are pleased to be con
suited by the representative of any
we'll known newspaper. Although
knowing what they say is going to ap
pear in print, most people at such times
talk with pleasure. But type has nc
graceful gestures, animated expires
sions, and sympathetic tones. 1t is
bald, cold, cruel and, the interviewed
is likely to add, untruthful. Therel car
be no more cruel exercise of the inter
viewers power than the rendering Of
an interview into type exactly as it was
spoken.
The reporter usally gives his inter
view dignity it does not in fact pos
sess. He weeds out the superhuities
clears away the verbiage, links the
logical sequence and mends the gram
mar. This, is on his part, is purely
gratuitous. But if he has been KEEP,
standing too long in the hall, snubbed
by the supercilious servant, or received
less courtesy than he has a right to ex
pect in the drawing room, he sees ne
reasons for departing from his duties
as faithful reporter. There are many
men of sound minds and correct judg
ment who are careless of speech in thu
ardor OF conversation. Not uncom
monty bank president or Congress
man will thoughtlessly say saint
when he should have said ''hasn't.
The next morning, when this appears
he realizes that in some manner saint
seems to have impaired the value o
his opinion, and he feels that a JUS
estimate of his character and menta
ability has not been presented.
Mos. men go into journalism young
and before they realize that bodie
need the consideration given to othe
sorts of machinery. There is no tyran
30 absolute as the printers devil. Al
though the tired brain reel and th
hand fail, for the newspaper person
there is no to-morrow-only to-day.
The fascination of journalism Cal
only be compared to that of the foot
lights. In literature posterity has
voice. In journalism one snaps hi
fingers at the future and refuses to b
awed by the past. The present-to
day is king.